Conveyer for classifiers



Sept. 2, 1941.v A. E. JOHNSON CONVEYBR FOR CLASSIFIERS 2 sheets-sheet 1Filed May 18, 1939 INVENTOR.

ALF/FED do/m/solv Y ORNEY5.

S p 2, 1941. A. E. JOHNSQN 2,254,80

CONV EYER FOR CLASSIFIERS Filed May 18, 1959 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1' WI 1:WE?

ALFRED E. JOHNSON ATT'O EYS.

' INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 CONVEYER FOR CLASSEFIERS Alfred E. Johnson,Denver, (3010., assignor to Morse Bros. Machinery Company, 0010., acorporation of Colorado Denver,

7 Application May 18, 1939, Serial No. 274,415

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in classifier mechanism and moreparticularly to classifiers designated commercially as the raketype.

In certain industries, for example in mining, where ore is reduced toseparate and obtain the valuable constituents therefrom, it isfrequently necessary to separate settled solids from a liquid pulp. Inthe reduction of such mineral ores, the ore is typically reduced in sizeby a grinding process to liberate valuable constituents thereof, andduring or after the reduction, the ground product may be mixed withwater to form a p p n There are also other industrial processesrequiring the separation of divided solids of certain size or weightfrom other solids and/or from liquids. A classifier may be used for suchseparation in any process where materials are so classified. The presentinvention is not limited to mining nor to the separation orclassification of mineral ores.

In the mining industry, in order to separate the coarse particles of orecommonly called the sands, from the rest of the pulp, the mixturecommonly is subjected to such a classifying treatment. Usually thisclassifying step consists in forming a substantially static pool of thepulp permitting the larger and/or heavier particles of ore or sands tosettle onto an inclined surface, whereupon such settled sands are rakedupwardly along the inclined surface to a point of discharge at anelevation above the surface of the pool. The separated and dischargedsands may then be subjected to further treatment, such as returning tothe grinding media for further reduction.

The present invention discloses improved mechanism for accomplishingthis important classifying step in ore reduction or in any otherindustry requiring such a process.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide mechanism forreciprocating a rake element in a classifier in an unusuallyadvantageous movement.

Another object is to provide a classifier having a highly simplifiedoperating mechanism.

A further object is to provide in a classifier, rake carrying andoperating mechanism that readily may be used optionally to control theclearance between the rake and the upwardly inclined sand-bearingsurface, adjacent which the rake operates.

Still another object of this invention is to provide classifiermechanism that may be used in a simplex form as explained hereinbelow,or in a balanced duplex arrangement as will be more fully set forth. I

Still another object is to provide a simplex rake-reciprocatingmechanism that is well balanced mechanically to facilitate its operativefunctions.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design andconstruction which Will be more fully disclosed in the followingdescription and in the drawings wherein like parts have been similarlydesignated and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a typical single or simplex classifiermechanism embodying the present inventive concept;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same, drawn partially insection for purpose of clarity;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a duplex classifier made according to thisinvention;

Figure 4. is a fragmentary end elevation looking in the direction ofarrow 4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail View of an optional modification thatis particularly adapted for use on classifiers of the type illustratedin Figures 1 and 2;

' lustrated. Reference character I2, Figures 1 and 2, denotes a typicalclassifier tank having a poolforming lower end IS, an upwardly inclinedbottom l4 and a discharge end at l5. The tank l2 and the operativemechanism conveniently may be supported by any suitable structuredesignated as a whole by reference character IS.

A prime mover such as an electric motor ll, drives a pulley ill by meansof belting IS. The driven pulley i8 is carried on a shaft 20 whichcarries adjacent its opposite end a pinion 2| meshing with a. drivengear 22 carried on a shaft 23. Shaft 23 being thus rotated at a reducedspeed, drives a crank disk 24, the crank 25 of which engages andreciprocates a frame 26. Frame 26 may be made of any suitable structuralmaterial and is herewith illustrated as being made of standard channelsteel members. The frame 25 is composed of a lower or rearward section26a and an upper or forward section 26b. The two sections are connectedby the crank pin 25 for simultaneous but differential reciprocation.

The lower or rearward frame section 2612 is supported for differentialreciprocation upon pivotal links 21 and the upper or forward framesection 26!) is supported for differential reciprocation upon pivotallinks 28. The rearward links 21 are carried upon movable arms 29 mountedupon a shaft 30 which may be rotated to impart angular movement to thearms 29 through the intermediary of a gear sector 3| operated by a worm32 connected for manual rotation by means of a handwheel 33. Obviously,by rotating the handwheel 33, the movable arms 29 may be raised orlowered along arcuate paths, thus to raise or lower the axis ofoscillatory movement of the links 21.

The frame structure 26 is pivotally connected with a rake element I33 tosupport and reciprocate the rake. The rearward or lower end of the framestructure 26 is pivotally connected with the rake I 33 by means ofplates 34 and a shaft 35 carried on said frame section 26a. The upper orforward end of the frame structure 26 is connected with the forward endof the rake I33 by means of a pivotal yoke 36 engaging in keyhole slots31 in plates 38 which are attached to the rake as by means of rivets 39.The yoke 36 is pivotally carried on a shaft 36a, which in turn ismounted on frame section 26b.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings referred totherein, it readily will be seen that by rotation of the crank pin 25the frame 26 will be differentially reciproeated and will in turn imparta very specialized differential movement to the rake member I33. Thepath of the rake as it is differentially reciprocated is approximatelyillustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6. Such a path of movement ishighly desirable because the rake element I33 is caused to move upwardlyand forwardly in controlled spaced relationship with the inclined bottomI4 of the tank I2. The upward and forward movement of the rake issubstantially parallel to said bottom I4 so that the material beingraked upwardly therealong may be contacted by the rake.

When the rake element reaches the forwardmost position of its straightline movement along the inclined surface I4, the mechanism hereinaboveset forth acts to raise the rake element away from the inclined bottomI4 and the material thereupon, so that it is returned to itsrearwardmost position without the danger of it dragging the sands backtoward the pool. From such rearwardmost position, the rake is loweredtoward the inclined surface I4 to begin again its upwardly inclinedstraight line movement parallel to the sand-bearing inclined surface I4.

The handwheel 33 may be used to vary the clearance between the rake andthe inclined surface I4 and also to vary the exact pattern of the pathof the differential reciprocating movement of the rake element. Thesingle rake mechanism as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is known as asimplex classifier.

Next, referring to Figure 3, the classifier tank is divided into twoparallel and similar tanks I2a and IN). It appears unnecessary toillustrate a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 3 becauseits general arrangement and organization as viewed from the side wouldbe very similar to Figure 2.

The mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 is driven through the intermediaryof a shaft 20a and a pinion carried thereon and meshing with the gear22a carried on a shaft 230;, which is provided with two crank disks 24a.and 2417.

As illustrated, the cranks on crank disks 24a and 24b are indiametrically opposite positions at all times so that the mechanism isvery well balanced both statically and dynamically. Crank disk 24areciprocates a frame structure I26 and crank disk 24b reciprocates aframe structure I26a, both of said frame structures being similar to theframe structure 26 hereinabove set forth.

The rearward or lower ends of both frame structures I26 and I26a aremounted upon oscillatory links similar to links 21 and given referencecharacter 21a, and the upper or forward ends of the frame structures I26and I260. are carried upon links similar to links 23 and designated byreference character 28a. The frame structure I26 carries a rake elementI33a. The details of the connections between frame I26 and rake I33a aresimilar to the construction hereinabove set forth. The frame I260.carries a rake element I331) and is connected therewith as abovedescribed.

It appears obvious that the rakes I33a and I331) will be differentiallyreciprocated along paths similar to the diagrammatic illustration ofFigure 6 and as these two rakes are reciprocated side by side, they willbe at opposite points along their reciprocating paths at all times.

The double or duplex classifier illustrated in Figure 3 has twice thecapacity of the classifier illustrated in Figure 1 and, as above pointedout, the mechanism is well balanced at all times. Both the simplex andduplex classifiers are exceptionally well adapted to perform theclassifying function of raking sands upwardly along an inclined surfaceaway from and out of the settling pool.

In the simplex machine, it is sometimes desirable to artificiallybalance the reciprocating mechanism. One good way to balance the simplexmechanism is to use a counterweighted crank disk such as illustrated inFigure 5, in place of the symmetrical crank disks illustrated in Figures1, 2, 3 and 4. i

The crank disk illustrated in Figure 5 is carried upon a shaft 23b andis provided with a counterweight 46 diametrically opposite the crank pin4|. Obviously, in such an arrangement, the counterweight 40 tends tocounterbalance the weight supported upon the crank pin 4|.

The simplex mechanism as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is more likelyto require counterbalancing than the duplex arrangement. Obviously,other arrangements could be had for counterbalancing the simplexmechanism and a counterweight could be placed advantageously upon someother part of the mechanism to be effective in its counterbalancingfunction. Due to the leverage involved in frame sections 26a and 26?),it might under some circumstances be desirable to position thecounterweight on the same side of the shaft 231) as the crank pin.

The sections of the several frame structures 26, I26 and I260. act aslevers wherein the actuating power is supplied at and by the crank pinswith which they are connected, the load is the rake elements and thelevers are fulcrumed on the oscillatory links as set forth. Theresultant movement of the supported rake elements is approximately asillustrated in Figure 6 and is highly eflicient in moving material alonga surface associated with such a rake element so moved.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a preferred modification ofthe manual lifting device for therake-operating mechanism. The gearsector 3| is keyed to the shaft 30 as hereinbefore set forth, and themovable arms 29 are mounted upon said shaft 39 and carry the oscillatorylinks 21. The worm 32 is manually operable by means of the handwheel 33and is carried upon a special yoke 50 that is rotatably carried upon theshaft 39. The rotatable yoke 50 has a projection 5| that is positionedto contact a stop 52 carried upon the structural member 16. Obviously,when the worm 32 is rotated in a direction to force gear sector 3|downwardly to raise arms 29, the yoke 50 will tend to move upwardlybringing the part 5! thereof into engagement with the stop 52, thusholding the yoke in the illustrated position and enabling the worm 32 toserve its purpose of elevating the arms 29 and the links 21. If and whensome foreign obstacle should get in the way of the rake, the yoke 50will pivot downwardly permitting the arms 29 to raise from their normalposition, thus permitting the rake to raise and prevent damage thereto.

It is now apparent that the stated objects of this invention are fullyaccomplished by the example of reduction to practice herein set forthand, further, that this inventive concept represents an importantforward step in the art of building and successfully operatingclassifiers or the like. While this specification discloses preferredmeans for reducing the present invention to practice and a preferredembodiment of the invention, changes may occur to those skilled in theart and may be made Within the scope of the appended claims, withoutdeparting from this inventive concept.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a classifier having an inclined surface for divided solids and arake, the improvement which comprises mechanism for operating said rakeadjacent said surface inclusive of a sectional frame above the surface,oscillatory links carrying the sections of said frame, means forreciprocating the frame on said links, means connecting the sections ofsaid frame with the rake, angularly movable arms supporting the linksthat carry one of said frame sections, a gear sector for moving saidarms, a manually operable worm engaging the gear sector, an angularlymovable yoke supporting the worm, and a relatively stationary stoppositioned to limit the movement of said yoke.

2. In a classifier having a rake, the improvement which comprises meansfor supporting a portion of the rake inclusive of a shaft, an armsolidly mounted upon the shaft and supporting a portion of the rake, agear sector solidly mounted upon said shaft, a yoke mounted for rotationabout the axis of said shaft in one direction, stop means positionedadjacent said yoke for limiting its rotation in the other direction, andmeans carried upon said yoke and engaging said gear sector for rotatingthe shaft.

3. In a classifier or the like having an upwardly inclined surface forthe support of divided solids, the improvement which comprises a crankpin journalled for rotation above said surface, means for rotating thecrank pin, a frame section pivotally connected adjacent one of its endswith said crank pin, a yoke pivotally suspended at the other end of theframe section, plates having keyhole slots pivotally hung from saidyoke, oscillatory arms supporting the frame section intermediate saidend portions, a second frame section pivotally connected adjacent one ofits ends with the crank pin, other plates pivotally connected with thesecond frame section adjacent its other end portion, oscillatory linkssupporting said second frame section intermediate its end 7 portions, arake element supported on said plates in a position to move upwardlyadjacent said inclined surrace and parallel thereto and to be returneddownwardly away from said surface thus to complete a difierential cycleof movement, and means for balancing said mechanism.

ALFRED E. JOHNSON.

